The suicide bomber kills at least 22 in the Greek Orthodox church in Syria

Dweil’a, Syria – a suicide bomber Syria The fire open then exploded an explosive vest inside a Orthodox Greek church Filled with people praying on Sunday, killing at least 22 years old and injuring 63 others, reported the state media.

The attack took place in Dweil’a on the outskirts of Damascus Inside the Mar Elias church, according to the Sana state media, citing the Ministry of Health for the toll of the dead and the wounded. The war in Great Britain was monitoring the Syrian Human Rights Observatory said that there had been at least 19 people killed and dozens injured, but had not given any exact figures. Some local media reported that children were among the victims.

The attack on the Church has been the first of its kind in Syria for years, and comes like Damascus under its Islamist de facto rule Try to gain the support of minorities. As president Ahmad al-Sharaa Fight to exercise authority across the country, there have been concerns about the presence of dormant cells of extremist groups in the country torn by the war.

No group immediately claimed responsibility on Sunday. The Syrian Ministry spokesman for the Interior, Noureddine Al-Baba, said at a press conference that a preliminary investigation underlined the extremist Islamic State group. The ministry said that a shooter entered the church and shot people inside before blowing up with an explosive vest, echoing certain witnesses.

“The security of places of worship is a red line,” he said, adding that it is and the remaining members of the Assad ousted government are trying to destabilize Syria.

Syrian information minister Hamza Mosfa sentenced the bombing, appearing a terrorist attack.

“This cowardly act goes against civic values ​​that bring us together,” he said on X. “We will not retreat from our commitment to citizenship equality … and we also affirm the State’s commitment to exercise all its efforts to combat criminal organizations and to protect society from all attacks threatening its security.”

Witnesses said that the shooter’s face was covered when he entered the church and started to shoot. When a crowd took care of removing him from the church, he exploded his explosives at the entrance.

Social affairs and the Minister of Labor in Syria, Hind Kabawat, the country’s Christian and female minister, met the church clergy in the evening to express her condolences.

“People prayed safely before the eyes of God,” said Father Fadi Ghattas, who said he saw at least 20 people killed with his own eyes. “There were 350 people who prayed in church.”

However, Meletius Shahati, a priest of the Church, said that there was a second shooter who had shot the church door before the other person was exploded.

The security forces and the first stakeholders rushed to the church. The panicked survivors groaned, while a lady fell on his knees and melted into tears. A photo released by the Syrian state media Sana showed the benches of the church covered with debris and blood.

Issam Nasr, who prayed in church, said he saw people “blown into pieces”.

“We have never held a knife in our lives. Everything we’ve ever worn was our prayers,” he said.